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Newspaper Page Text
SS!jiw;gif BASEBALL SPORTS OF ALL SORTS BOXING According to delirious blurbs from Havana the white race has triumphed in the victory of Jess Willard over Jack Johnson. All of which is bunk. A big white man, trained to the min ute, beat a very fat and leg-weary col ored man in a contest between indi viduals. The greatest gloat we can drag from the result is the fact that "white hope" talk will now end. It has been a false issue for nearly five years and we have had to stand for a lot be cause of it The very men who yelped the loud est about the indignity visited on the white race when Johnson licked Jef fries, and who searched diligently for a man to vindicate the Caucasian honor, were the ones responsible for the title passing to a black man. They tried to make a killing then and failed, and immediately became very much injured in their honor, though It is probable the welt in the pocket? book gave them the greatest pain. " There were many angles to that Jeffries-Johnson fight which made the white men connected with it look much worse than the negro they re viled. Johnson's private life was not saintly, but there can be no doubt his head was turned from the adula tion given him by white people after he had won the title. It is a good thing for the fight game that Willard has won. It will lift the class of heavyweight mills, for there will be no more of the past white hope fiascos. As a personal triumph for Willard, the fight will stand. In the next two years the title will be worth over half a minion dollars. Unfortunately, Willard will get only a comparatively small share of this. His manager, the promoters of the fight and several other gents who have as sisted in "vindicating" the white race will cut in for the lion's share. Three more days, and then comes the opening of the' local baseball sea son, the Federal league being the first to begin campaigning. Preparations for a big -time are being made for Saturday afternoon at the north- side park. President Weeghman, it js understood, has played safe by gaining the consent of both Thompson'.and Sweitzer to pitch the first ball. The winner will make the toss. ' All manner of side entertainment will be on the bill, following closely, nTESO ."WTLCLFfcRD the program of last season, when! cabaret singers-and brass bands kept s the spectators interested before tha ' first batter stepped to the plate. f Tinker's,WhaleswHI be opposed by Fielder Jones' Sloufeds and the local i people will have to extend themselves i in order to make a good- showing. J The St. Louis crew has done, its i spring training-in Havana, where ex--1 cellent weather was encountered and contests were possible with some of I the strong teams of the island. d This brings the Terriers back to this country .primed for a rapid start t I m